Keyhole-guard.



n PATENTED APR. 11, 19o5. n.21; ROBESON; H KBYHOLB GUARD'.

"APPLIGATIOVRIILED JULY 9, 1904'.

VdlllllflliUN/JHHHIIIHII1N4-I- l l l c Il lli 11 nventor l Witnesses 4 in the usual manner.`

UNITED STATES Patented April 11, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

KEYHOLE-GURD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 786,842, dated Apri] 11, 1905. Application iiledxl'ulyg, 1904. Serial No. 215,85-8.

To wel whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT I. RoBEsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Omaha, in vthe county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyhole-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides a simple guard device for use in connection with locks of doors to prevent picking of the lock by any one having illegal intentions or otherwise.

As is well known, the ordinary lock at present in use can readily be picked by experts, even though the key be left in the key-opening after the door has been closed and locked It is therefore a desideratum of my invention to secure a handy device which may be readily carried by travelers or others having use for the same and which may be introduced into the key-opening of a door or like part and so engaged and positioned as to obviate all likelihood of unlocking of the door from the outside thereof.

For a full descriptionof the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a kno wledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modiiication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which l Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, showing same applied to a door and in operative position, the door and adjacent parts being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing' the several parts of my guard-device separated. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. g

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the same, vthe invention consists principally of a shank or stem 1, adapted to be introduced into the key-opening of a door and which when once in position will effectively prevent the insertion of a second key, either skeleton or original. In order to secure the stem or shank of my device in position, so as to prevent all liability of displacement thereof, peculiar lock means are utilized. The lock devices above mentioned consist, essentiallyfof a nib or engaging member 2, extended angularly from the shank or stem 1, and this member 2 is designed to engage Within the lock. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and designated 8.) The stem 1 of the device is rounded or of circular form adjacent one end, so as to readily admit of inser-tion into the key-opening and of revolutory movement of said stem therein in order to dispose the nib 2 in a horizontal position, so that same will engage the inner side of the lock-casing. The nib will thus prevent displacement of the stem inwardly when thrown into a horizontal position by manipulation of the stem. The lock device, in the form of a slidable member 4, is mounted upon the shank or stem 1, and this member is adapted by a longitudinal movement to be thrown into the key-opening,'so as to thereby prevent revolution of the'stem 1 with a view to disengage the nib 2 thereof, so as to displace the stem from the key-opening. The lock member 4 is provided upon its upper side with a journal-tongue 5, which is received in a groove 6 upon the under side of the shank of the guard device. The shank 1 is longitudinally slotted, as shown at 7 and a pin 8 projects upwardly from the lock member and passes through the slot 7 of the shank, so as to secure the lock member thereto. The pin 8 further constitutes apivot upon which a latch 9 is mounted, and this latch 9 is adapted to engage the shank 1, so as to prevent slidable movement of the lock member 4 when same has been inserted into the key-opening. The latch 9 is pivoted at one end, and the other end is cut away on an incline, as shown at 10, so as to engage the outer portion of the shank 1 with a sort of cam action. yThe outer ends of the shank 1 and the lock member 4 are enlarged, as shown at 1 1 and 11, respectively, so asto form a finger-piece and may be readily grasped in operating the device. The shank l also is provided with an enlargement between its ends, as shown at 12, which limits the movement of the shank or stem in inserting the same within the key-opening.

It will be understood that the guard may be used in connection with rim-locks, it being illustrated in connection with a mortise-lock of common type. When used for rim-locks, the nilo 2 would be carried by a shorter shank or stem, since this nib must engage the inner side of the casing of the lock only.

In using the device after the door has been locked .the key thereof is removed from the lock and the lock member 4 of the device is slid rearwardly to the limit of its movement, the pin 8 forming a stop means for limiting` such movement, and the stem l is then introduced into the key-opening and turned so as to throw the nib 2 into a horizontal position. The above having been accomplished, the lock member is then given a longitudinal movement, so as to throw its inner end into the keyopening, after which the latch 9 is by a pivotal movement thrown into engagement with the shank of the device, and said lock member is then firmly held from movement. The lock member 4 having been locked the guard device is positively held within the key-opening and forms an elfectual bar to the one who attempts to pick the lock.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a keyhole-guard, the combination of a shank or stem adapted to be introduced into the key-opening, a nib projected at an angle from the shank, a lock member slidably mounted upon the shank, said shank being provided with a longitudinal slot, a pin projected from the lock member and operating in the slot of the shank, said pin limiting the movement of the lock member upon the shank, and means for preventing movement of the lock member.

2. In a keyhole-guard, the combination of a shank provided longitudinally thereof with a slot, an integral nib projected angularly from the shank, a lock member slidable longitudinally of the shank, a pin projected from the lock member and passing through the slot of the shank, and a latch pivoted to the pin aforesaid, and adapted to engage the shank to prevent movement of the lock member.

3. In a keyhole-guard, the combination of a shank or stem adapted to be introduced into the key-opening, an engaging member projected from the shank at an angle thereto, a slidable lock member disposed upon the shank, and a latch carried by the lock member and engaging the shank, and preventing movement of said lock member.

4. In a keyhole-guard, the combination of a shank or stem adapted to be introduced into the key-opening, an integral nib projected from the shank, a lock member disposed upon the shank, and a pivoted latch engaging the shank and preventing movement of said lock member.

5. In a keyhole-guard, the combination of a shank or stem adapted to be introduced into a key-opening, anib projected from said shank or stem, alock member slidably mounted upon the shank, and a latch pivoted to the lock member and cooperating with the shank to prevent displacement of the guard from the key-opening.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT I. ROBESON. Witnesses:

JOHN MCMILLAN, R. B. MONTGOMERY. 

